Developer claims $20K daily loss at Univision site

Demolition of the former KWEX 41/Univision building began on Nov. 4, but the work was halted less than 24 hours later after preservationists sought a restraining order to stop its destruction.

Photo By TOM REEL/San Antonio Express-News

The Univision building in July 2013.

Photo By TOM REEL/San Antonio Express-News

The Univision building in July 2013.

Photo By Tom Reel/Express-News

The Univision building in July 2013.

Photo By TOM REEL

The Univision building in July 2013.

Photo By Photos by John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News

Protesters complained that the demolition work on the Univision building continued despite the court order.

Police officers speak with a worker about the court order obtained to halt the demolition work.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Benjamin Olivo/mySanAntonio.com

The demolition of the historic Univision building.

Photo By Photos by Marvin Pfeiffer / San Antonio Express-News

The Univision building is being demolished to make room for apartments. Preservation activists who sought to save the building were angered that a city board would not hear an appeal in an attempt to save the building.

Fencing is erected before the demolition of the building on César E. Chávez Boulevard.

Photo By TOM REEL

A sign notes historical sentiment as a group of protestors ask for support from passing motorist in front of the Univision building which is being demolished on November 5, 2013.

Photo By TOM REEL

Fidel Castillo positions a sign on the construction fence as a group of protestors ask for support from passing motorist in front of the Univision building which is being demolished on November 5, 2013.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A backhoe is stopped after demolition of the Univision building on Cesar Chavez Boulevard is halted Tuesday November 5, 2013. A court order obtained by the Westside Preservation Alliance stopped the demolition.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A backhoe is used to demolish the Univision building on Cesar Chavez Tuesday November 5, 2013. A court order obtained by the Westside Preservation Alliance stopped the demolition shortly after this picture was made.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

A San Antonio police officer looks at a court order Tuesday November 5, 2013 that the Westside Preservation Alliance obtained to stop demolition of the Univision televistion studio on Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Susana Segura (left) and others at the scene delivered the order to stop the demolition process.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

San Antonio police speak Tusaday November 5, 2013 with Susana Segura (left, center) of the Westside Preservation Alliance about a court order the group obtained to halt demolition of the Univision television building on Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Dust rises as a backhoe knocks down the Univision television building Tuesday November 5, 2013.

Photo By TOM REEL

A group of protestors ask for support from passing motorist in front of the Univision building which is being demolished on November 5, 2013. From left are Fidel Castillo, Adolfo Mendez Segura, Patrick Pineda and Itza Carbajal.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Workers stand by a fence as demolition takes place at the Univision building on Cesar Chavez Tuesday November 5, 2013. A court order obtained by the Westside Preservation Alliance stopped the demolition Tuesday morning.

Photo By TOM REEL

A group of protestors ask for support from passing motorist in front of the Univision building which is being demolished on November 5, 2013. From left are Fidel Castillo, Adolfo Mendez Segura, Patrick Pineda and Itza Carbajal.

Photo By Marvin Pfeiffer/ Southside Reporter

Demolition of the Univision building began on Monday. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development .

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Temporary fencing is erected prior to the demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

The KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd as demolition begins on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo By MARVIN PFEIFFER/Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

Demolition of the KWEX 41/Univision building at 411 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd began on Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. The building is being demolished to make room for a 350-room apartment development on the prime area of the River Walk. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

A temporary restraining order that halted demolition on the former Univision building will remain in place until Tuesday, when another court hearing is scheduled on the matter.

District Judge Richard Price ruled Friday that the temporary restraining order, granted to a vocal group of activists who insist the 1955 structure has cultural and historic value, can stand — for now.

Preservationists are fighting to protect what's left of the building, the birthplace of Spanish-language broadcasting in the nation, after wrecking crews began their work this week.

The 4-acre site on the southern stretch of the River Walk is being cleared for construction of a $55 million, 355-unit apartment building.

Lawyers for Greystar, a developer from Charleston, S.C., told a district judge Thursday that its client has lost about $20,000 per day since demolition was stopped.

The developer's lawyers tried to persuade the judge to significantly increase the bond amount attached to the order, which had been set at $250.

A higher bond, the defense argued, would help cover Greystar's daily losses.

“We believe a more significant bond is appropriate,” David Kinder, an attorney with Cox Smith, told the judge.

Amy Kastely, a lawyer for the Westside Preservation Alliance, the grass-roots group that obtained the order early Tuesday, told Price her client lacked the “financial means” of a big-time developer like Greystar.

Price ultimately denied Greystar's request.

“The temporary restraining order remains in full force and effect” until the Nov. 12 hearing, Price said.

On Nov. 12, the San Antonio Conservation Society is scheduled to go to court against the city of San Antonio on the same matter.